Purpose: Amend the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) guidance for stewardship contracting authority by establishing a center of excellence in the BLM Oregon State Office (ORSO) that will solicit, award, and administer all stewardship projects over a $100,000 procurement threshold.

Policy/Action: Starting immediately, all new stewardship contracts and agreements expected to exceed $100,000 will be solicited, awarded, and administered by the BLM ORSO. Project managers need to alert Stephanie Coleman, Chief Contracting Official (CCO) for the BLM ORSO, of projected timelines of upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 stewardship projects by June 15, 2007. Please note that the BLM ORSO deadline for stewardship projects is June 15, 2007. If you cannot meet that acquisition deadline, your projects will be processed in the order in which they are received. Currently, this policy is expected to shift four to six FY 2007 projects from the BLM National Business Center (NBC) to the BLM ORSO.

During FYs 2008 and 2009, ongoing stewardship projects that were awarded by the BLM NBC will be scheduled to shift to the BLM ORSO for contract administration on a case-by-case basis. In addition, the review of projects less than the $100,000 procurement threshold will be shifted from the BLM NBC to the BLM ORSO beginning in FY 2008.

These actions are intended to complement any future decisions under the Managing for Excellence Initiative and have been approved by the Deputy Director.

Timeframe: This IM is effective immediately.

Budget Impact: Implementing this request has minimal budget implications as it shifts work from the BLM NBC to the BLM ORSO. In addition, having one office procure all stewardship projects over $100,000 should improve the efficiency and consistency of stewardship projects.

Background: The BLM was authorized in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill of 2003 (Public Law 108-7, Section 323) to enter into stewardship contracts to achieve specific land management goals for public lands. This authority allows the BLM to enter into long-term end result contracts or agreements (up to 10 years in length) that allow the value of timber or other forest products removed as an offset against the services received. In addition, any excess revenues are available for expenditure at the project site or other approved stewardship project sites without further appropriation. As of September 30, 2006, the BLM has awarded 139 projects.

In a memorandum dated September 16, 2003, the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget authorized the BLM, through the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, the authority to award and administer stewardship contracting projects, including those entered into by agreement (see Attachment 1). The authority is limited to Level III and IV Contracting Officers in the BLM NBC and the BLM ORSO. In Instruction Memorandum (IM) No. 2005-134, Delegation of Stewardship Contracting Authority, the BLM’s Assistant Director, Business and Fiscal Resources, delegated stewardship contracting authority for projects under $100,000 to Contracting Officers who have specific stewardship training (see Attachment 2).

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: None.

Coordination: This IM was coordinated with the BLM NBC; the Division of Property, Acquisition and Headquarters Services; the Bureau Procurement Chief; and the BLM ORSO.

Contact: Additional information is available by contacting Kathy Radigan, Stewardship Coordinator, Division of Forests and Woodlands, WO-270, at (202) 452-5097, or Stephanie Coleman, CCO for ORSO, at (503) 808-6216.